Ch 63: Breakfast at Wendy’s

“Oh, Mom, you did awesome last night!” Janet gushed, hugging her mother. “Everybody said so, and you’ll never guess who was there.”

“The entire town from what I saw,” Wendy said, handing Janet a plate of French toast topped with glazed strawberries. “It was lovely of you to do that, Janet. Seeing a room full of friendly faces is so much better than…”

“Enemies?” Steve said bouncing in just then. He kissed his mom on the cheek before grabbing a plate and taking three pieces of French toast. He took a huge bite and continued talking with his mouth full. “Mom, you rock! Everything was awesome last night.”

Janet grimaced. “Those gentleman lessons haven’t done much yet, huh?” she said with a derisive shake of her head.

“Don’t want to make it too easy for her. It took me forever to get her to understand Algebra,” Steve said.

“Did I miss something? Who’s giving you gentleman lessons?” Wendy asked.

“Cindy, Wes’ sister,” he stated happily. “Remember you told me to help her with math? Well, Janet told her to make a gentleman out of me. Ain’t gonna happen, but I’ll let her try. She loved your cake, Mom. She wants you to make one for her birthday. Maybe we can have the party here, like a surprise party. She’d love that!” he said excitedly.

Janet and Wendy stared at him then exchanged puzzled looks.

“Goodness, you’re happy today. What has gotten into you?” Wendy asked.

“I just tolja. We had an awesome time last night. We even got to see Dad!”

“Jeffery…was there?” Wendy said, further stunned.

“Yep. He had dinner with some basketball buddies and he joined us for dessert. The waiter told us you were a blast to work with and that you were so much better than the old chef Vincent.”

“Viktor,” Janet corrected him. “Dad was the one, Mom. He called some of your friends, the ones who like to spread gossip. He told them about you working there, they told everyone in town and the place was packed. Nice of him, huh?” 

Wendy stared at her in bewilderment, then to Steve and back to her. Janet talking nicely of her father was strange enough, but Stevie happy as a clam in the morning when he’s usually as prickly as a porcupine? 

“All right, who are you and what have you done with my kids?” she said, just as the last of her offspring showed up.

“Good morning!” Jasmine said brightly and she too hugged her mother. “Everybody was thrilled at the restaurant last night, Mom! You are the new culinary sensation. That’s what Mr. Frank said. He loves you!” 

“Uh…so I’ve heard. Breakfast?” Wendy said offering her a plate. She would know for sure if the world had completely reversed direction depending on Jasmine’s response. 

Jasmine eyed the French toast hungrily, but she shook her head. “I had too much to eat last night. I’ll get fat if I don’t watch it.”

“There’s always zumba,” Janet said, snidely.

“You know I hate exercise,” Jasmine said.

“Well, at least you’re normal,” Wendy muttered. “I’m surprised my fourth kid isn’t here. He usually smells my French toast a mile away.” 

Just on cue the doorbell rang.

“Speak of the devil, but what is he doing ringing the bell?” Janet asked. “He usually just busts down the door.”

“I’ll get it,” Steve said before stuffing the last of his food into his mouth and getting up. He swung open the door and almost gagged.

“Hi, Stevie!” Cindy said.  She looked at him strange. “You okay?”

He nodded, staring at her as if she was an illusion. “What are you doing here?” he managed to ask after swallowing.

“We came to get Janet. I thought you’d like to come, too. It’s so much better than riding the bus,” she said happily. When he kept staring at her she blushed. “You don’t have to come. I’m sure you like to hang out with your friends on the bus.”

“No!” he shouted. “I mean, I wanna come with you. The bus sucks. Where is Wes?” he asked looking beyond her. 

Wes came up the walk holding a small bunch of blue flowers tied with a ribbon and talking with Troy. 

“Well, come on in,” Steve said grinning at Cindy.

“Good Morning!” Wes said, bending down to kiss Janet on the cheek.

“Wes!” Janet shouted. “What are you doing here?”

“Do you really have to ask?” Jasmine said rolling her eyes.

“Thought I’d give you a ride to school,” Wes said, handing her the flowers. “I picked these for you from my mother’s garden. Hope you like them.” 

She took them while staring at him. “But…but I still have the ones you got me before.”

“Janet, never look a gift flower in the…petals,” her mother said, smiling at the new comers. “Anyone hungry? Pretty sure you are, Troy, my boy.”

“Oh, yeah! Thanks, Ms. F,” Troy said, grabbing the food and starting to eat before he sat down beside Jasmine.

“Why didn’t you pick me flowers?” Jasmine said, pouting.

“Uh…” Troy said, then he glanced up at Wes. “Knew you’d make me look bad!”

Wes, however, wasn’t listening. He was too busy whispering to Janet. Cindy nudged him, finally catching his attention. “What?” he said.

“Ms. Meadows is talking to you,” Cindy said.

“Would you like some breakfast?” Wendy asked again, handing him a plate before he got the chance to refuse.

“Uh, wow…thanks so much, Ms. Meadows,” he said and he sat down next to Janet. “Your mom is awesome.”

“Cindy, how about you?” Wendy asked holding out a plate for her.

Steve jumped up from his seat and grabbed the plate from his mother, he placed it on the table and pulled the chair out. “Here ya go,” he said bowing dramatically to Cindy.

She burst out laughing and sat down. "Thank you, Steve," she said.

“Holy Moly! It’s true then,” Wendy said, stunned.  “You are giving him gentleman lessons and they seem to be working! Cindy, you’re officially my fourth favorite child.”

“Hey! What about me?” Troy whined.

“You’re fifth,” Wendy replied, waving a dismissive hand and drinking her herbal tea. “So, kids, what’s on the agenda for today?” 

“Your day off today, right?” Troy said. “You should come to our game. We’re playing against Pinebrook Heights and they’re horrible. We’re definitely gonna win.”

She laughed. “So, I’m not allowed at the games you might lose?”

“Well, those are just embarrassing. No one should come to those,” he said. “Please, come, you’ve never seen us play. You were always at work before.”

“Alec wants to spend the entire day with me, but I’ll try to come,” she said.

“Is Alec your boyfriend?” Cindy asked.

“She means Mr. Frank,” Wes told her.

“Oh!” Cindy said, giggling. “He’ll probably take you shopping and to the day spa. Mom loved her spa days with Mr. Frank. She used to say he’s the best girlfriend she ever had,” Cindy said.

Everyone laughed.

“Wait… Your mom knew Alec?” Wendy asked.

“And my dad too,” Cindy said. “Dad sold him the restaurant and he introduced Mom to him when she needed to research restaurants for a book and then when she wrote Mr. Frank into a story he was thrilled. They were best friends until she died. I think he cried more than anybody…except for me.” After a slight pause she added, “These are the best French toast I’ve ever had. Is this a special day or something?”

“No, Mom makes breakfast for us every day. She’s just like Molly Weasley,” Steve whispered.

Cindy giggled. “You’re so lucky.”

“Beats cornflakes, that’s for sure,” Wes said. 

“You should come here every day and have breakfast with us,” Steve said.

“We can’t do that!” Cindy said.

“You could,” Wendy interjected. “I love feeding strays. Right, Troy?”

“Oh yeah!” he shouted.

“We should leave. It’s getting late,” Wes said taking his and Janet’s plates to the sink. “Thanks so much, Ms. Meadows. Breakfast was great.”

“Tomorrow I’m making omelets,” she said in a coaxing sort of way.

“Wow,” Cindy said. “Can we, Wes? Please?”

“Mom, is it okay if I use your vase? Mine’s too small for these plus the other flowers I have,” Janet asked.

“The perils of an over generous boyfriend. Now I have to give up my favorite vase. Sure, Honey, it’s fine,” Wendy said.

“Wes, come with me,” Janet said, taking his hand.

“Thought we were going,” Cindy said, as she watched them run up the stairs.

“We’ll wait for them in the car. How long can it take to put flowers in water?” Steve said, pushing her out of the kitchen. “Bye, Mom! See ya later.”

“Bye, Stevie,” Wendy said, a secret smile playing on her lips. “I do believe someone’s in love.”